Europe is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. To the east and southeast, Europe is generally considered as separated from Asia by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways of the Turkish Straits. - Wikipedia

Energy

Transportation

Travelling as a foot passenger on a traditional ferry service is one of the greenest ways to travel between the UK, Ireland and the continent, yet it is often difficult to find information on how public transport links in with the vast network of ferry services at home and overseas.
- Greentraveller

Virtual Tourism Observatory

The European Commission is relaunching the Virtual Tourism Observatory (VTO),its repository of statistical information, reports and information on policy and legislation relevant for the EU tourism sector.https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/vto

Tourism is a major economic activity in the EU. It has a wide-ranging impact on economic growth, employment, and social development. The EU aims to maintain Europe's place as a leading tourist destination while maximising the industry's contribution to growth and employment. The VTO is one of the Commission's instruments to achieve this objective. It facilitates access to statistics and other information, improves our socio-economic knowledge of the sector and supports evidence-based policy making. The relaunch of the VTO also contributes to the implementation of the 2010 Tourism Communication ”Europe, the world's No 1 tourist destination“.

Hello there! The official hashtags are #EHDs and #JEP2016 (for French speaking areas). Since the events are happening from August to November and in 50 states, the possibility to stream live videos will depend on the countries and their promotional campaigns, but we will make sure to share everything we have :) As for the changes, more than 35 countries this year will join in celebrating a pan-European theme of "Heritage and Communities"! You can find more information on www.europeanheritagedays.com.https://twitter.com/JEP_EHD

Every year, the celebration of European Heritage Days moves beyond the physical locations opened for tours on specific dates. Although the event itself lasts only for few days a year, it manages to make a permanent impression on the visitors and encourage them to further promote its main ideas.
The aims of the European Heritage Days are to:

raise the awareness of European citizens to the richness and cultural diversity of Europe;

create a climate in which the appreciation of the rich mosaic of European cultures is stimulated;

counter racism and xenophobia and encourage greater tolerance in Europe and beyond the national borders;

inform the public and the political authorities about the need to protect cultural heritage against new threats;

invite Europe to respond to the social, political and economic challenges it faces.

In order to harmonise all the national and regional events and to unite them under the European flag, several principles were defined in 1991:

the European Heritage Days should take place during a weekend in September;

the European Heritage Days allow the general public to visit monuments and sites all over Europe usually closed to the public;

the buildings that are open all year round can contribute to the programme, providing that they offer special activities, such as guided visits, exhibitions, concerts, lectures;

The European Heritage Days is a flagship initiative creating a positive impact on the life of local communities. This annual pan-European event gives visibility to cultural and environmental assets, local skills and traditions, architecture and works of art, with the aim of enriching the lives of citizens and bringing them together. It is a concrete example of how local communities can contribute to the European dimension of heritage and celebrate heritage as a shared European value.

The Council of Europe and the European Commission are delighted to announce that “Heritage and Communities” is the pan-European theme for the 2016 European Heritage Days. It reflects how heritage defines our sense of community, past and present, but more importantly, how it can contribute to shaping our shared future.

“Heritage communities are the manifestation of synergy between heritage and diversity with a constructive approach – valuing and celebrating on one side and actively searching for alternatives for societal challenges by all actors having a role and responsibility for the improvement of their quality of life. The Council of Europe, with an enlarged and cross-disciplinary approach to cultural heritage and diversity, encourages Heritage Communities to assert the principle of every person’s right of access to the cultural heritage of his or her choice, while respecting the rights and freedoms of others.” said Gianluca Silvestrini, Head of the Managing Diversity Division, Council of Europe.

Europe indeed has unrivalled cultural heritage and history. In every historic building, in every stone wall, thatched roof or plasterwork ceiling lays a treasure and a specific context of place. Empowering Heritage Communities helps promote participatory governance and an imaginative future.

In an increasingly transnational, homogeneous and virtual world, it is imperative that priority is given to locally-led initiatives that contribute to community well-being and which champion inclusivity, creativity, resilience, self-knowledge, imagination and cultural acuity. With its community-based initiatives and place-based distinctive approach, Heritage Communities create a platform to revisit and redefine relations in order to address the societal challenges faced in Europe today.

The level of public engagement in the European Heritage Days programme reveals a large and growing appetite among citizens to participate in the cultural life of Europe. The public’s imagination has been ignited, releasing an enthusiasm and energy that can contribute to the issues facing us, in particular by providing new ways of access, dialogue, exchange and belonging.

Karel Bartak, Head of Culture Unit, European Commission has emphasised that “the European Commission and the Council of Europe are committed to supporting national heritage days programmes which join forces with regional and local organisers – who have a lot of dedication and talent – in order to make this project a reality. Thanks to this cooperation, more sites are made accessible and more events are organised every year; for 2016 more than 20 million visitors are expected to participate. This will further enhance public awareness of cultural heritage as a strategic resource for Europe's society and economy, and stimulate the appreciation of the richness of the European cultures in the run up to the European Year of Cultural Heritage to be held in 2018.”